Sunday, January 31, 2010

Sunday update.

My word, I think it's been at least a WEEK since you've seen a picture of Sticky Bean! Why didn't someone REMIND me?? This one was taken by Leah when we were at Deb's house in December.

 

 News is the Bean is almost crawling, but would still rather be crabby than actually DO it.

We spent the day at home since the roads were so bad. Once again, our county snowplows came in the middle of the night and plowed one lane through the subdivision, but at least they didn't get stuck in the cul-de-sac this time. Ben and the boys dug most of the cars out, so those who have work tomorrow can go. 

I got a lot of paperwork-type stuff done today. Paying bills, budgeting stuff, tax prep. Every year I wonder if it can possibly get more complicated, and it never disappoints me. This year there are things I just have no idea what to do with—I love my tax lady. And I didn't cook a single meal. Every once in a while that's really nice. So while I got a lot done, I kind of feel like I had an off day, and I'm ready to tackle tomorrow. 

Be thankful ~

Karen

Saturday, January 30, 2010

I have hope.

Everyone is at home today. Here's why:

 

 


Early this afternoon, Ben was sitting on the couch with his computer and checked the forecast at Weather.com. It said (and I quote), "Snow likely."

Ya think?

That was when there were already 5 inches. We're now up to 9 1/2 inches on the deck. This is the storm that was suppposed to bring us maybe 4. *sigh*

On a happy note, Ben and I are planning our trip to San Antonio for Mike's graduation from Air Force basic training later this spring. They say it will already be hot there. I can't wait. I'm already planning which flip-flops and shorts I'll bring, and what spring dress I'll wear to graduation. I can just feel the warm sun shining down on us at the River Walk . . .

 

 


Be thankful ~

Karen

Friday, January 29, 2010

News of the day.

Sweet Load of Chocolate Overturns on Interstate


Driver injured.


WFLS News

Date published: 1/28/2010
 
A tractor trailer carrying Hershey's chocolate overturned on I-95 early this morning. 

The accident closed two southbound lanes for most of the morning rush hour. 

State police Sergeant Thomas Molnar says the driver of the rig was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. 

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. 

The 32-thousand pounds of chocolate had to be picked up by hand and loaded onto another truck taking most of the morning. 


Did you get that last line? 32 THOUSAND POUNDS of chocolate. This accident occurred less than 20 miles from my house.

I see a police scanner in my future.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Why God made editors.

My work will never be done.



Be thankful ~

Karen

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

It's the Random Dozen. And I made it before midnight!




This week's edition of the Random Dozen, brought to you by Linda, who weekly bails us all out of the dreaded what-do-I-write-about day.

1. How good are you at delaying gratification?

Pretty good. I just remind myself of the tuition bills that are coming and I can walk away from just about anything.

2. Maybe a marshmallow wouldn't be too difficult a temptation for you. What food (or anything else) would be most tempting?

Chocolate cake. Or a hot brownie with French vanilla ice cream. Or a slice of Vesuvio's pizza. Or maybe a piece of Mueller's crumb cake. Or a vanilla latte. Dude, my mouth is watering!

3. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being saintly) how patient are you?

I'm going to be very bold here and give myself at least an 8. I am among the most patient people I know. Until the dog rubs up against my black yoga pants when I'm walking out the door to the gym. Then I might go a little ballistic.

4. Have you ever waited for something in life only to be disappointed upon realization of the goal/object/etc.?

Nothing that I can think of. Maybe a few insignificant things (like the pepper grinder), but nothing that matters in the scheme of things. It's all about attitude and thankfulness.


5. Are you a person who takes shortcuts?

Only in the small things, and then only sometimes. I've learned that the only kitchen shortcut worth taking is Eggo waffles. The homemade ones just stink. Everything else is better made from scratch. I can't think of any other area of life in which I take shortcuts. So I guess, no. 

6. Which line is hardest to wait in?

The one that's supposed to be fast. The self-checkout line that can't read the UPC on your bread. Or the express lane for people with ten items or fewer (that's another post in itself) where there's a person with eleven items, one of which has no UPC on it, and we can't just take her word that it's $5.98. We must page someone, anyone, in that department, wait for said person to call the register, describe the item in question, and THEN find out that, well-can-you-believe-that, it's $5.98, just like she said.

7. Did you wait to discover the gender of your unborn child until its birth?

Yes, with all but the second one. I just knew the first one was a girl (that's Mike), I found out with the second one (that's Deborah), I had no idea with the third one (that's Leah), I really felt like the fourth one was a girl (that's Abbie), and I absolutely knew the last one was a boy (that's Elijah).

8. Are you more patient with children or the elderly?

Definitely the elderly. Children are supposed to be trained, so I guess my impatience is with their parents, not the children themselves. At least the elderly have an excuse.

9. Did you ever sneak a peek at a present?

Maybe when I was little. I don't really remember.

10. What is the longest you've ever waited for anything?

I'm still waiting, but the older I get, the less important it becomes.

11. Who has more patience, you or your significant other?

Ben has more patience in certain circumstances, but I'd say overall I have more.

12. Which of the following songs about waiting is your pick for the best? (OK, you may substitute another, if you like.)

I'll pick my own:

What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
When I look upon his face
The one who saved me by his grace
When he takes me by the hand
And leads me through the promised land
What a day, glorious day, that will be!

Be thankful ~

Karen

Monday, January 25, 2010

A special mommy moment.

I'm inspired by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee to share a special mommy moment I've had recently.

Mike is finished with his job at the Media Research Center, and has the next three weeks off before heading to Air Force Basic Training in San Antonio in mid-February. So Ben has projects lined up for him to work on. One of those projects is replacing most of the windows in our house. Mike is really good at hanging windows and doors, so we're  taking advantage of his expertise before he gets away.

So today, the boys replaced two windows in my bedroom.

But let me backtrack. (I know. It's a writing no-no. But this is the blog that I own, so I can do it if I want.)

This is the house that shall forever be known as "that hideous 80's house." When we bought it, there was a funky olive green plastic shower door in the kids' bathroom (probably so we wouldn't notice the loose tile with rotted wood behind it), all the bathroom fixtures were two-tone gold and silver, the living room fan was white with gold trim, the kitchen counter tops were country blue, and every window was covered with two sets of sheers—one white and one some other color. Little by little, we are erasing the horrible decorating evidence, but the white and burgundy sheers were still hanging in my bedroom.

So when the boys came in to start tearing the place apart, Mike removed the sheers and piled them on my bed. Later in the day when we were cleaning up, I started taking them off the rods and shoving them in a garbage bag. As I was reveling in the cleansing feeling of getting rid of those sorry, bunched-up wads of non-fabric, I said out loud, "I would rather have NO curtains at all than put these ugly, grandmotherly things back up there."

Mike paused and said, "But you are a grandmother."

Thanks, Mike.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Man-boy tries to change his name.

Man-boy learned how to use the chainsaw today in an attempt to shorten his name to Man. Here he is making the first cut:




Cutting the notch (this is how you get the tree to fall where you want it—you cut a notch that faces where you want the tree to fall. Then you cut into it from the back and it leans toward the notch.):



Tree falling (note Man-boy is not in the picture. That's because he's smart and got outta Dodge before it fell.):



Cutting trees is a rite of passage for the boys in our family—a bar mitzvah of sorts. I remember when Mike learned to use a chainsaw. We had bought the house on the hill in Tennessee and had to cut about 20 trees to get electricity up to it. Our long driveway looked like a giant game of pick-up sticks, and we have a picture of Mike standing in front of all those fallen trees with his saw. If I were any kind of organized, I would be able to find that picture in 30 seconds, scan it, and put it up here. But your expectations are much loftier than my reality. That picture is nowhere to be found.

So that's what the boys did today while we girls were enjoying a shopping expedition in  honor of Abbie's 20th birthday. Yes, I'm now the mother of FOUR children in their 20s. I'm left with ONE teenager, and it appears that's not going to last much longer either.

At this point, Ben will offer to undo our permanent solution to overpopulation, and I will counteroffer with a cute little non-shedding dog like this:




At least my option sleeps through the night and never brings home tuition bills.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Friday, January 22, 2010

Is it Friday yet?

My brain is blank. Flat-lined. Some weeks I stay up way too late, and by the end of them, I can't even think. Tonight I'm going to try to finish Leviticus, but I'm not terribly hopeful. So in the interest of non-coherency, I give you a list of things that made me smile this week. There may not be many. It's not because I didn't smile much, but because I can't think. Flat-lined, remember?

1. I saw this van at the Y one day and it made me laugh right out loud.

2. Word has it Sticky Bean has started crawling. I'm hoping to receive a video of it in the next day or two. Hint, hint.

3. Abbie called earlier this week and was having an emotional breakdown. This happens every semester during the first week of classes when she gets completely overwhelmed with everything she has to do. But this time, she was also stressing because it costs so much money. $180 math book, $110 in art supplies, $240 in photography supplies. After I swallowed hard and made sure the bank account wasn't overdrawn, I was able to give her the same speech my daddy gave me years ago. "Honey," I said, "We have a magic bank account. Every month it fills up with money, and there's always enough to pay for everything we need." I also added that God would not put her in a specific place and then not provide for her. It made me smile to hear myself saying the same thing my daddy used to say to me.

4. After I talked her out of her breakdown, she went to Target to get a few things. Here she is, perfecting her talent for squishing herself into a Rubbermaid tub:



I love that girl.

Have a great day!

Be thankful ~

Karen

Thursday, January 21, 2010

A man-boy and his toys.

This is why the girls love him. Man + guns = irresistible.



 
Be thankful ~

Karen

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The random dozen.

I never finished answering all the questions last night, so I'll do it this morning and add a little "attaboy" for Senator-elect Browne of Massachusetts. It's not Kennedy's seat anymore, is it?

And on that happy note, here's the weekly random dozen. Thanks to Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee for the questions each week. If you'd like to participate, go over there and get the questions, answer them, and then link up with Mr. Linky at the end of her post so everyone can read your answers.




1. So I was thinking about how Jon Bon Jovi never seems to age much. His hair is smaller nowadays, but he still manages to look like a boy somehow. And then that made me think of the story of Dorian Gray. Question: If you physically lock in one age for yourself, which would you choose and why?

I'm pretty happy with the age I am right now. I wouldn't want to be a teen again, and while having a young family was fun, I'm enjoying having young adults much more. We're on the downhill side of putting kids through college, and I'm enjoying life. I'll pick 48.

2. What is the best dish that you cook or bake (your piece de resistance?)

I think it's my spaghetti sauce. We'll see what the family says. Family?

3. When you feel blue, what is one strategy you use to help yourself back to normal?

Go for a walk. Or soak in a hot bath. Or read brain candy.

4. When was the last time you danced in public?

You must be kidding. I don't even dance in private. I'm the most uncoordinated person I know.  Ben, on the other hand, was once known as the disco king. He danced on the streets of DC a few years ago when we were listening to the guy play the 5-gallon-bucket drums in front of the Museum of Natural History.

5. Do you consider yourself a realist or dreamer?

I'm a realist. Ben is a dreamer. We balance each other out.

6. As a parent, what is one thing that you have done well?

I have developed very open, talk-friendly relationships with my kids. My daughters in particular tell me everything (at least I think they do).

7. Which is your favorite character on the Andy Griffith show?

Barney. He makes me laugh.

8. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Probably a 3. I've heard the speech a bunch of times, read a few children's books (even edited one years ago), but that's about it.

9. Have you never been mellow? Have you never tried … to find a comfort from in side you? (Sorry, Jorge was singing that song just now, and it just seemed to be perfect timing as I was creating this week’s questions.) REAL question: What is your #1 driving pet peeve?

Oh, but I have so many! (Remember, I live in the DC suburbs.) At first I thought it would be the dodging-and-darting on the 6-lane-wide Capitol Beltway, but then I thought maybe it was the guy who gets in the left lane and drives 50 in a 70 mph zone, or the lady who puts on mascara while driving in rush hour, but I think I'll settle on the people who read email on their phones while driving. Nothing makes me madder. Yeah, go ahead and endanger all our lives, because your email is just that important.

10. Which color best represents your mood today? Care to elaborate?

Well, I'm wearing the tye-dyed T-shirt Abbie made me. Does that mean I need psychoanalysis?

11. If your spouse were an animal, which would he/she be?

I asked the kids this question and Elijah said a bear. When I asked why, he said, "Because bears look big and mean, and everybody thinks they're mean, but they're just big teddy bears. Just like Dad. Bears are not naturally mean animals."

12. What activity takes up the bulk of your time on an average day?

Work at the computer. I do a lot of other stuff, but no other one activity for four hours.  

And there you have it. Now y'all have a wonderful, 59-41, non-filibuster-proof day.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Thankful we're past THAT stage.

I've been following DeeDee's preparations for THE TALK with her daughters with a bit of a smile on my face. I am happy to say that time of life is behind me, and we all made it successfully to the other side, but not without a few funny stories.

Our girls have always shared a room. We felt they would be closer growing up (and not just in the physical, three-people-crammed-in-one-small-bedroom sense) if they weren't allowed to separate themselves into warring factions, and it turns out we were right. They are as close as three sisters can be. But because I didn't have any sisters, I wasn't aware of how much talking goes on late at night.

One evening when the girls were about 14, 12, and 10, I was walking past their bedroom and heard the talking. Actually, it was more of a heated discussion. So I stuck my head in the door and said, "Y'all be quiet and go to sleep."

Before I could get my head back out, Deb (the oldest and wisest) said, "Mama, isn't it true that babies are made the same way puppies are?"

(Now go wipe the coffee off your monitor.)

That may have been the first time in my life I was truly speechless. Growing up in the country provides you with great illustrations to use in real life, and apparently, my daughter (who had already gotten THE TALK) had some experience with puppies-in-the-making.

So I answered confidently, "Uh, well, um, . . . yes."

After a very long silence, the youngest daughter went, "Eeeewwwwwwwwww!"

I'm letting her keep that opinion as long as I can.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Still being random. It must be a symptom of a larger problem.

It's a rainy Sunday. We have a living room full of guys watching football and laughing at Tony Romo (my apologies if you're a Dallas fan). I cooked a ton of food, and Ben did a ton of dishes. I ate a big piece of coffee cake (homemade, hot out of the oven), and I am feeling the tension in the waistband of my skirt, which makes it hard to think. Ben and the man-boy are having a basketball face-off after church tonight and I am afraid for their physical well-being. They are rather, uh, competitive, and that may be the understatement of the century. Ben will not quit, even if he has to shoot the ball with his teeth while dragging dislocated limbs.

I just failed English 101. You know, the part about each paragraph having its own topic? But English 101 doesn't live my life, so I feel justified. Somehow.

I finished Exodus last night, and now comes the rollicking good time of Leviticus and the eight gazillion laws therein. I know all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for (all that stuff), but oh boy, those laws. I think I'm a day or two ahead of schedule, but it won't last. I drag myself through the prophets and then make up time in the New Testament, which I'm much more familiar with, so I can read it faster because I anticipate what's coming. I hope that's not cheating.

And finally, the latest Sticky Bean:


He might be getting just a little less crabby.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Saturday, January 16, 2010

The granola you can't live without.

A while back, I went on a Bear Naked Triple Berry Crunch granola kick, and vowed my undying love to it.

Turns out that was a big mistake, because I had never made Deb's Granola. Can I now publicly renounce my devotion to the BNTBC? My heart has found a new granola home. Once you make this, you'll never go back. I promise.



Deb's Granola

4 1/2 cups rolled oats (not the quick ones; use the old-fashioned kind)
1 cup sliced/slivered almonds
1 cup pecan pieces
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1/4 cup flax seed (I use ground flax seed)
1/4 cup oat bran (I didn't have any, so I used wheat germ)
2/3 cup brown sugar

Mix all this together in a really big bowl. Then, whisk together:

1/2 cup maple syrup (the real stuff; don't ruin your palate with that fake corn-syrup nonsense.)
1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)
1/2 teaspoon salt

and pour over the oat mixture in the big bowl. Toss around with your hands until it's all nicely coated. Spread evenly on 2 cookie sheets (make sure they have sides). Bake at 250° for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

I made a half recipe (what was I thinking?), put it on two cookie sheets, and it only needed to bake for 30 minutes. You just want it to be slightly browned and dry looking, so use your judgment.

Before I made this recipe, my attitude was, "Whatever. Granola is granola."

That is SO not true. This granola has a light but crispy texture. The coconut flavor is not overwhelming because it's toasted in the oven. The oats are not tough and chewy like in most granolas. I eat it with a big dollop of organic vanilla yogurt, and it makes getting up in the morning way easier. I don't know which to have first—my coffee or my granola—it's THAT good.

Enjoy!

Be thankful ~

Karen

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Random, random, random.

Photo of the day:



I have no idea when or where this was taken, but I'm guessing it was summertime, since the man-boy's hair is kind of blond. Maybe summer camp? I just know I always like to see a picture when I visit a blog, so there you are. A random picture of my handsome son for no good reason.

I have no idea why I'm so incredibly tired tonight, but I am. I worked some this morning, did laundry, cleaned up some construction debris out back with the man-boy, rode the bike for 30 minutes and did Pilates for an hour. I've had much worse days and not been this tired. Did I mention I'm really tired?

And now, to accompany the random picture, a few random thoughts, in random order:

1. Farmville on facebook has got to be the most grammatically incorrect program ever written in the history of mankind. It makes me want to scream and rip somebody's eyelashes out.

2. Apparently, V-8 is good to have on hand when your blood sugar drops. Who knew? (I told you they were random thoughts.)

3. I will never eat store-bought granola again. Daughter Deb gave me her recipe for homemade granola and it is to die for. Never again will we buy Bear Naked Triple Berry Crunch. It doesn't hold a candle to Deb's. If you want the recipe, I'll be happy to post it. I eat it every morning with organic vanilla yogurt. It's a little taste of heaven.

4. Husbands who do dishes at night when you are dead tired deserve the gold star of the day. Ben earned one tonight. He even washed and dried the Crock-pot and the rice cooker, which is more than I ever do. I'm a soaker, not a scrubber. Ben is a scrubber. We are perfect complements.

5. I need a new pair of jeans. This might be the low point of 2010. Jeans shopping also makes me want to scream and rip somebody's eyelashes out. I sense a pattern here.

That's all. I'm going to bed. Maybe sleep will calm the savage beast.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Random Dozen—it's been a while.



I don't think I've done the Random Dozen since mid-December. We've been a little busy. But here we are again with nothing to do (SOOOO not true).

1. When was the last time you craved a food--what was it, and did you cave?

Yesterday. Chocolate. Yes, M&Ms.

2. M & M's or Skittles?

See #1. Skittles are nasty. Why would you eat corn-starch-hardened-fake-fruity-flavored pellets when you could have melt-in-your-mouth-not-in-your-hands chocolate?

3. Have you ever read the Bible completely through?

Yes, nine times (I think). I'm going at a good pace this year, but not sure if I'm going to read it through again, or just read the history a bunch of times. I'll decide when I'm faced with the major prophets. 

4. How long does it take you to really wake up in the morning?

Ben will disagree with this, but I don't think it takes me too long most days. Sometimes I like to lie in bed and enjoy the sunrise out my French doors, but mostly I just get up and get going.

5. Have you ever been on a cruise? If not, would you like to?

No. I always thought I would like to, but Ben's been on a few and he says it's not much fun (that's a joke. He's retired Navy, so his cruises involved 24-inch wide bunks stacked three high minus the all-night buffets.) Plus, I get motion sick since the time Ben took me on the Mad Hatter's Tea Party ride at WDW. He seriously ruined my vestibular system.

6. Who is your favorite actress?

Sandra Bullock. I absolutely loved her in While You Were Sleeping, and am looking forward to seeing Blindside. I also love Reese Witherspoon. Lucille Ball was pretty awesome too. Abbie says Joan Cusack.


7. ______ is something that I will just never understand.

Watching the same movie over and over. You've already seen it. You already know what happens. Unless it's something with Sandra Bullock or Reese Witherspoon. Or Tom and Jerry cartoons, but I watch those for the music.

8. How much of a technology junkie are you?

Baaahahahaha! I learn a new thing when I MUST, and not until. I still can't figure out why we need Twitter. I recently learned how to update my facebook status via text message, but I never remember to actually, you know, DO it.


9. Do you enjoy selecting greeting cards for people, or is it more of a cultural "have to" for you?

I highly dislike greeting cards. They just seem so fake. If you want to say something, say it or write it yourself.

10. When was the last time you got a new style/haircut?

Ummmm, I think I was 24. I'm not making this up.There's only so much you can do when the rule is long.


11. What do you enjoy shopping for most?

Books. I could spend days in Barnes & Noble and spend thousands on books.

12. What's the last thing you think of before you leave the house?

Cell phone? List? Did somebody lock the dog up?  

Our new mother-of-all ceiling fans seems to be doing a good job of spreading the heat. My bedroom is warmer than it has been for weeks. And no one's been blown off the couch yet. Mike has to cut a wide path around it so his head doesn't get lopped off (he's 6'4"), but when I reminded him last night to be careful, he said, "I got it, Mom. I live up here."

I am so tired today I may have to nap before Pilates. Or maybe during.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The cure for the clicking.

I just found out that when you inadvertently hit enter, your blog entry posts with nothing but a title. Smart.

So remember the clicking fan that was just short of catching fire and burning the house down? Ben hung a big sign on the wall switch last night that said, "DO NOT TURN FAN ON." Then today he came home early with a new fan, which is lovely because the one that almost caught fire was a hideous '80s model - white with gold trim. Really, it was awful, and we're not sorry to see it go, except that the new one was expensive. But hey, all in the name of not burning the house down, right?

While Ben and Elijah were taking the old one out and installing the new one, I was busy with my own activity, namely setting up a new printer to replace the one that died one day after I put all new ink cartridges in it.Of course. And since the old one only lasted a year, do I really want another one of those? Nyet.

So I stopped at Best Buy on the way home from picking up the car that had a transmission flush (yes, our bank account is a hemhorrage), and bought a new printer/scanner/copier. Wouldn't you think that if you pay that much money for an electronic gadget, it would come with the proper plugs? But no. You also have to buy a USB cable, which I'm sure I have at home, but will never find until I go buy a new one. So I decided to be smart and buy it while I was there, to save myself a trip.

Except that I bought the wrong kind. I needed an A-B one. I came home with either an A-A or a B-B, I'm not sure which, because the ends aren't labeled. I just know it didn't work. Back to Best Buy to get an A-B cable.

I walk in the door and Ben says, "I tried to call you while you were out to stop at Lowe's for me."

*sigh* Have I mentioned I'm deaf? I stick my cell phone in my purse and it's just muffled enough that I don't hear it. I've tried keeping it in my pocket, but it doesn't vibrate hard enough to feel it. I will not use a bluetooth. People give me the creeps when they walk around stores talking to no one (no offense if you do that—I just couldn't do it myself).

So I went back to Lowe's for the part Ben needed, had a lovely conversation with four male Lowe's employees who insisted that the sheetrock in my living room ceiling was going to hold up a 70-lb. fan (can you see my eyes rolling?), and came home with the requested part. When I walked in the living room, the fan was assembled on the floor.

It's massive. 70 inches in diameter. That's almost 6 feet.

I said, "Honey, is it going to blow us off the couch?"

He replied, "Maybe, it's sure going to move some heat around!"

And so far, it's doing the job quite nicely. And it's pretty! And the house isn't burning down!



It's been a good day.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The clicking is no more.

Well.You just never know what a day will bring.

Today, Sunday, we made it to church on the first try, all vehicles intact. Went to have dinner with Hope's family. (Hope is a lovely young lady in our Sunday school class.) Had a delicious dinner with the best bread I ever ate, and lots of fun. Came home to chill out and watch a little football before we head back to church tonight.

So we're sitting in the living room waiting for the 4:00 game to start, when I keep thinking I hear a clicking in the living room. Now I'm a little paranoid about things I hear and don't hear, since I'm half deaf already and don't hear things that are there and do hear things that aren't there. Make sense? Of course not, but that's the way it is. So I finally work up the nerve to ask out loud, "Do I hear something clicking?"

Everyone listened and Ben said, "It's the ceiling fan. I heard it doing that this morning."

Well, good. At least I'm not crazy.

But then moments later the house was smoky and smelled strongly of burned wiring. The fan is now permanently off and the house has not burned to the ground. Isn't God good? I mean, what if that had happened when no one was here to turn the thing off? Would we have been the family in the insurance commercial who stands on the front lawn and watches their house burn up?

Yes, I'd say God knows what He's doing.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Friday, January 8, 2010

I have a fourth-born child and her name is Abigail.

She prefers to be called Abbie, but I can't help myself. I call her Abigail.

Abigail just came to me and said, "How come I'm the only kid who doesn't have her own picture on your blog?"

I replied, "There's a picture of you on there with Mike, Leah, and Elijah."

She said, "Yeah, but not one of me by myself."

So I will remedy that here and now, with a pictorial essay of Abbie.

Here she is as a baby, with those awesome curls.




The rest are pictures from her 17th year and on, when she discovered a love for photography and got a nice camera. I've tried to pick an assortment that shows the many sides of Abigail. She is fun-loving, beautiful, passionately pro-life, a musician, a world traveler, silly, and serious. She loves the Lord. And we've recently discovered she is also a top-notch student. She came out of her first semester at Liberty University with a 3.91 GPA. Ab, you rock!



Her caption for the photo below is "Blessed are those who are cracked, for they let in the light."

 

 

Playing catch phrase:

 

At the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Jan.22, 2008. That day is also her birthday.

 

With Big Ben in London:

 

Being surprised at her 18th birthday party:

 

 

In Pisa, Italy, with the obviously leaning tower:

 

Modeling the T-shirt for Rock for Life's Pro-Life T-shirt Day.

 
She is special, indeed.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Thursday, January 7, 2010

This is how my brain feels today.


Be thankful ~

Karen

Coming up for a quick breath.

Our other editor has had no Internet service for almost a week, so I've been trying to keep up with everything. Just stopping in to let you know we're still alive here. Here's my latest favorite picture of Sticky Bean all snuggled up in his car seat.



This from a student's history test:

Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a 100-foot clipper. (Are you getting the visual?)


And a few misguided headlines:

POLICE BEGIN CAMPAIGN TO RUN DOWN JAYWALKERS

FLAMING TOILET SEAT CAUSES EVACUATION AT HIGH SCHOOL

IRAQUI HEAD SEEKS ARMS

Be thankful ~

Karen

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The joys of holiday travel. And a few student bloopers.

My kids did a lot of traveling to several different states over the holidays. Leah and Elijah were in the interminable line to board one of their flights, when the waiting just got to be too much for one of their fellow passengers. In the midst of heavy sighs, he said out loud, to no one in particular, "You know, they could make this so much easier. (imitating talking on a PA system) This is your captain speaking. Sit down. Shut up. We're taking off." 

In other news, I have finally found a copy of Anguished English: An Anthology of Accidental Assaults Upon our Language by Richard Lederer.  I read the first page and a half and am already howling with laughter, but maybe that's because I'm a word nerd.

And you know how when someone tries to read you something he/she thinks is funny, and it's just not as funny as when you read it yourself? Well, you're in luck. Because this is a blog that you read! You get to read the ones I think are funny right along with me! Isn't that fun? So let's get started.

From a child's English paper:

The Gorgons had long snakes in their hair. They looked like women, only more horrible. (p. 7)

And from the science and health department:

H20 is hot water, and CO2 is cold water. (p. 7)

Abstinence is a good thing if practiced in moderation. (p. 9)

More to come when I have time to read.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Sunday, January 3, 2010

First Sunday of the new year.

First, because some kind soul actually reads this blog and asked for a picture of the awesome boots, here it is:




Second, my new French door is in the back bedroom wall, and last night was the first night we actually slept in the room with the door there. It was all fine and dandy until our eyes got adjusted to the darkness and we realized that there was a very full moon outside with no cloud cover. In other words, it was like a spotlight. Quite a different feel from the room we used to refer to as the "parent cave." We also realized that in wintertime when there are no leaves on the trees, we can see our neighbors' lights through the woods. Hopefully we don't live in a neighborhood with peeping Toms.

Then this morning, Ben got up at his usual dark hour, but I stayed in bed until daylight, which I think is the normal thing to do. I learned that daylight begins earlier than I thought, with a lovely, orangey-pinky glow in the eastern sky quite a bit earlier than I'm accustomed to. But it's the perfect excuse for staying in bed—I'm enjoying the sunrise, right?

So we all got up and got ready for church. Mike decided he was staying home so he wouldn't spread his cold (that's going to be important in just a moment). Elijah pulled the van up in the driveway and let it begin to warm up. We piled in and were on our way. Just a little way out of our subdivision (a mile from the house), Ben looked at the temperature gauge to see if we had heat yet. That's when panic set in. The temp was well above normal, and there wasn't the littlest bit of heat, never a good sign. So with the needle climbing, he turned around and we raced home before it got to the you're-going-to-do-irreparable-damage-to-this-motor zone.

The decision was made to switch to the Acura, since the Honda has leather seats and it was all of 2 degrees at that point. We all jumped from van to Acura and were on our way. About 2 miles from the house, we started to hear a loud noise from the back of the car. As we drove, it got louder and louder, until finally Ben realized it was the unmistakable sound of a tire riding on the rim. We pulled into the YMCA parking lot, found the spare, a jack, but no tire iron.

(This is where Mike staying home comes in handy.)

Got Mike on the phone, he came to rescue us, and we all went home for a third try. (When it's time to pay the car insurance bill, I hate having seven vehicles. Today, I was thrilled.) The girls and Elijah and I headed off to church in the Pontiac, Ben changed his clothes, and he and Mike went to change the tire on the Acura. Then Mike drove it home, and Ben drove Mike's car to church, showing up just in time for the first hymn, in greasy jeans and a sweatshirt. We heard a great message and enjoyed the saints. We were blessed.

So here's the bottom line:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8)

It would have been very easy to give up and just stay home. It's incredibly cold and windy out. The vehicles are breaking left and right. It's discouraging. We're trying to save money for tuition rather than spending it all on cars. There are a million excuses.

But if you don't persevere for any other reason, do it so the devil doesn't win. Be vigilant. Get the blessing in spite of him.

Be thankful ~

Karen

Friday, January 1, 2010

Just because we love the demolition.

Abbie and I went shopping today, and, wonder of wonders, I found a pair of really cute boots that actually fit my ugly, deformed feet (I have bunions) in the very first store! I'm hoping that's an omen of good things to come in the new year.

When we got back, we heard the unmistakable sounds of construction coming from the back of the house. I got to my bedroom and this is what I found:






You can't see the bed for all the stuff piled on it. My desk is in the right corner. That massive hole in the back wall used to contain a fireplace, which is now on the deck:



We never did like that fireplace anyway. It smelled funky when we tried to actually, you know, burn a fire in it, and it leaked like nobody's business when it even looked like rain, so we're glad to see it go.

Here's what's coming in its place:



Hopefully tomorrow I'll have pictures of a finished project.

Be thankful ~

Karen